Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 31, 1990)
Page 4 THE CLACKAMAS PRINT ELECTION Tax relief in disguise School funding put in jeopardy Ballot Measure 5 will drastically affect since schools, ESDs and community col leges must share the $5 tax rate, if one of the school systems in Oregon. It is essential to our education on the these units secures a new levy, it will nega community college level that Measure 5 be tively affect the finances of other taxing districts. According to the letter, whether defeated. Measure 5 is the property tax relief Measure 5 passes or not, our current fund plan. Basically, what it is set up to do is cut ing from property taxes, 50 percent of the property taxes for school districts, educa school’s budget, expires June 30,1993, and voters cannot vote tional service to exceed that districts and limit no matter community col Ballot Measure 5 how severely local leges to $15 per services may be $1000 market cut value in 1991- Keyser’s last 92 with further cuts to $5 per $1000 market value by 1995- concernis that if the majority ofthe college 96. The state is required to make up the lost revenues begin coming from the state dr from other than the local district, local revenue up to 1996 only. The legislature will be required to cover control may be replaced by state control. If this measure were to pass today, the the cost of lost revenue, but Measure 5 doesn’t provide any alternative source of college would lose $1.3666 million dollars making up the lost revenue, so it will come in the first year alone, according to an estimated survey of the effect of Measure 5 from the general fund. Making up this difference will mean conducted by Chastain Economic Consult- that, by 1996, 70 percent of the general fundmoneywillgo to the school systems to It is essential to our payback lost revenue. There will only be 30 education on the percent of the state’s general fund left for prisons, higher education, senior services community college level and welfare. That will mean drastic cuts in that Measure 5 be those and many more programs funded by defeated._____________ __ the state. The effects at the community college ing. . Measure 5 will negatively affect many level do not concern just The Clackamas Print staff, but the college administration services in the state of Oregon. This so as well. In a letter to all college staff mem called tax relief plan will cost the state bers, College President John Keyser ex more in the long run. If we don’t pay in pressed that he has three main concerns money for the loss in revenue, we will pay for the cut in the programs we depend on to with Measure 5. Keyser’s first concern is that Measure serve and protect us. As students we have a chance to secure 5 requires the state to make up the lost property tax revenue as it continues to the a part of our education system by voting no current level of binding, but it doesn’t require on Ballot Measure 5. Until a reasonable the state to continue the current level of solution to the school funding system is state support, and without an additional found, we cannot take the chance of Meas revenue source the state will not have the ure 5 making our school system a bigger mess than it already is. funds to do both. Another concern Keyser has is that October 31,1990 Measure 11 bad for schools This translates into educational ex Let’s just say that five years down the road anyone cango to whatever school they penses of those who educate their children wish, at the taxpayers’ expense. What prob at home or send children to private schools lems would this cause? More than you can that will be syphoned from your local school imagine, as a result of Ballot Measure 11. district budget. Is this necessaiy, or wanted? Private schools will also be allowed tc Why is this ballot measure such a prob lem? Just think of the college situation, use the funds that they are allocated in anj and the recruiting that goes on at that level, way that the school sees fit. So private in stitutions art and how univer given money, sities lure stu but without the dents to their same accounta respective lairs. Ballot Measure 11 bility as publit Could anyone schools. Thi picture the may should not bi hem caused by, allowed. - Pe let’s say, Lak eridge High School who wants to build a riod. Measure 11 will also increase the cos strong athletic image. Lakeridge would probably do anything to get a star football of educating students. Schools should no quarterback who would be in Milwaukie be run like a business, unless you are in th< business of creating productive member High’s district The students themselves would want of society, and not making a “profit” off o to go to the top schools academic wise, and for sports as well. Many school districts Schools should not be would lose funding and shut down, since run like a business, students decided to go elsewhere. Then there is another related prob unless you are in the lem. In principle, those who devised this business of ... measure may hope that each school will be makings 'profit1 off of balanced, with a certain number of “out of district” students etc. Good luck. Over a young child.__________ crowding will become a major problem for many popular schools. How are they going a young child. Those in favor believe that it will givi to decide which students will be admitted? Not only will Ballot Measure 11 create poor children a chance at a better educa these problems, but it would also provide tion in a better district. If this measure goe funding from private institutions that al through, that poor child still might not b ready get money from students attending. able to get into the school because of th According to the League Of Women competition. Does this poorly written measure an Voters Of Oregon, “Local School property taxes pay roughly 70% of the costs of edu its subsequent atrocities deserve to b cating ... [Measure 11] will take local school passed? No. Stop the education systei property tax money away from your local from disintegrating before our collect» eyes. Vote no on measure 11. school district” Preserve freedom of choice: vote no on 8 Don't return women to back alleys Measure 8 on the Nov. 6 ballot would, come to mind when abortion is mentioned. The legalization of abortion has meant if it passes, amend the Oregon Constitution to prohibit abortion except to prevent the a major advance in medical care for our death of a pregnant woman, or in cases of sisters, our daughters, our loved ones and reported rape or incest. As a staff, we rec ourselves. We do not need to return to a time ommend a “no” vote. We do not wish to argue the religious when women will die in back alleys because or moral viewpoints of this issue, nor do we of illegal abortions. Abortion must remain legal for women want to debate when life begins. We only who decide that wish to address option is their our belief in a most responsible woman’s right Ballot Measure 8 choice. to choose. As the Ore It should gonian quoted in be relatively the Forum sec clear that no one is “anti-life” or “pro-abortion.” We tion on Oct. 25, philosopher Eric Hoffer simply believe that an abortion is a deci once stated, “Freedom... is the right to... sion that should be made between a woman choices others disapprove of.” Although the Print staff does not ad and her doctor. Neither the state nor any other faction should interfere with a woman’s vocate abortion, we do believe that it is a right to choose what happens within her Abortion must remain own life. In a perfect world, women would not legal for women who seek abortions. Every child would be con ceived in a state of love. Every child would decide that option is be wanted by someone. Children would not their most responsible be bom drug dependant, deformed or dis choice. ________ eased. Unfortunately, we are not part of a personal choice that should not be limited perfect world. Since abortion was legalized in Ore because someone else does not approve. This proposed ban on abortion would gon in 1969, our hospital wards have not been filled with women suffering from the be a grea^step back and a disservice to all effects of a self-induced orback alley abor woro/’S. ■ Save freedom of choice: votp “NO” on tion. Hemorrhaging, infection, infertility and death are no longer the thoughts that measure 8. State Measures No. 1 Question: Shall state constitution give metropolitan service district voters the right of self-governance, over metropolitan matters, through district charter? (Vote yes or no) No. 2 Question: Shall constitution allow school district created by merger a tax base equal to sum of tax bases of merged districts? (Vote yes or no) No. 3 Question: Shall tax exemption for PERS pensions be repealed, and amount equaling taxes plus 11 percent interest returned to PERS retirees? (Vote yes or no) No. 4 Question: Shall nuclear power plant (Trojan) be allowed to operate only if state regulatory agency finds that certain conditions are met? (Vote yes or no) No. 5 Question: Shall constitution set limits on property taxes, and dedicate them to fund public schools and non-school government operations? (Vote yes or no) No. 6 Question: By 1993, shall packaging used in Oregon meet certain recycling goals, unless a hardship waiver is obtained? (Vote yes or no) No. 7 Question: Shall Oregon law establish program of work by public assistance recipients for government-funded wages in.lieu of welfare benefits? (Vote yes or no No. 8 Question: Shall state constitution prohibit abortions except to prevent death ol pregnant woman and in reported cases of rape or incest? (Vote yes or no) No.9Question: Shall law, effective December 7,1990, require safety belt useby motoi vehicle drivers and passengers over 16? (Vote yes or no) No. 10 Question: Shall state law require doctor to give notice to parent or custodian at least two days before minor’s abortion? (Vote yes or no) No. 11 Question: Should Constitution provide choice of public schools, tax credit fo education outside public schools, voter approval of certain education laws? (Vote ye! or no) '
